USD’s Torero Stadium no longer seats 7,000 since bleachers behind one end line were removed a couple years ago. And the announced crowd Wednesday night for the international exhibition between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Tijuana Xolos was 6,124.

But it’s pretty safe to say no larger crowd has ever watched a soccer game there, and not because of who was inside.

Hundreds of fans lined the hillsides surrounding the field, stood along Linda Vista Road, craned their necks to peer over the shrubbery, ducked their heads to look through tree branches, peeked through chain-link fences, transforming an otherwise meaningless exhibition on a Wednesday night in March into an electric, memorable happening.

It’s not often that David Beckham shows up at your local college soccer field.

Those inside and outside Torero Stadium were treated to a game that was not your standard, drab exhibition fare. The Xolos would prevail in a penalty shootout after the teams played to a 2-2 tie through 90 minutes of surprisingly entertaining soccer.

“I've been to San Diego a couple times, to Legoland, to Sea World," Beckham said. "The kids love coming down here. So it’s nice to play here. Nice stadium, nice crowd. This was a good atmosphere.”

Both teams played their first unit well into the second half, and both seemed motivated to win with so little at stake. The Xolos opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Gilberto Mora slipped a pass between Galaxy defenders to Armando Pulido, who dribbled past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and slotted the ball into the net.

Two minutes later, the Galaxy had tied it. Omar Gonzalez outjumped the Xolos defense to head in Beckham’s corner kick.

The Galaxy went ahead 2-1 in the 75th minute when Landon Donovan capitalized on a horrific Xolos defensive mistake.

Six minutes later, the Xolos tied it on Luis Orozco’s penalty kick.

The teams had agreed beforehand to go straight to PKs in case of a tie. The Xolos missed their first attempt, but goalkeeper Adrian Zemeno saved shots by L.A.’s Miguel Lopez and San Pasqual High alum Jovan Kirovski to seal a 4-3 victory.

“For an exhibition game, it was hard fought and good for the fans who came out,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “It was a good challenge for our team. They pushed us.”

Beckham played 74 minutes, his first game action before paying customers since November. He spent the winter training with English club Tottenham but never finalized a loan deal allowing him to appear in games.

“You can train all you want, you can do a lot of fitness work and all of that,” Arena said. “But it’s important to get into games.”

Asked which player on the Xolos impressed him the most, Arena said, “No. 15.”

That’s midfielder Joe Corona, the Sweetwater High alum who spent a year at San Diego State before getting a tryout with the Xolos and signing a professional contract. Just 20, he’s a regular starter for the Tijuana team that, as first-half champions of Mexico’s second division, have a spot in the two-team promotion playoff this spring for a spot in the Premier Division.

“Can we get him?” Arena asked.

Beckham also seemed impressed with the Xolos, particularly their technical ability.

“They were very good,” Beckham said. “Every Mexican team can play football. It doesn’t matter what division they are in. The whole country revolves around soccer. It’s what they live and breathe. It’s in their blood to play great soccer.”

And to watch it.

Organizers had sold about 2,000 tickets by Tuesday, and there were fears that Beckham’s first appearance in what many consider America’s best soccer city would be greeted with a half-full stadium.

But by the middle of the first half, Torero Stadium was practically full despite the cheapest tickets being $25 and premium sideline seats going for $65. Full with Xolos fans more than Galaxy fans.

It was a subtle statement about the potential of the Tijuana club that by August could be playing in Mexico’s Premier Division with Chivas and Club America. The Xolos have built a strong following in Tijuana, and this game was part of a concerted effort to expand that north.

“It’s a good start,” said Roberto Cornejo, the Xolos assistant general manager and a Francis Parker High alum. “We’ve always considered ourselves a regional team. We know that sometimes our fans on this side of the border can’t always go down to Tijuana to see us play. This is an attractive game for those fans and to captivate new ones.

“We want soccer to transcend the border.”

Notes

San Dieguito High alum Frankie Hejduk was a 62nd-minute sub for the Galaxy and right back and nearly scored nine minutes later, forcing Zemeno to make a diving save ... Kirovski was an 87th minute sub in the midfield ... Corona started and played 67 minutes, nearly scoring when he chipped Ricketts, only for Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant to head the ball over the crossbar ... Ricketts left injured in the 65th minute and was replaced by Josh Saunders ... The Xolos are 2-1-5 in the Clausura season and host first-place Correcaminos on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Tijuana's Estadio Caliente ... More than 100 media credentials were issued for the game.